Description
Ceiba speciosa. 3.7L coir pot.
This is one of my favourite trees.
Native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America, the bottle-shaped trunk of this deciduous tree has thorns, that are believed to deter many wild animals from climbing the tree.
The orchid-like pink flowers are gorgeous.
The pods produce a silk-like material that was used as stuffing in such items as life jackets, mattresses and pillows prior to the use of synthetic fibres.
It is possible to obtain oil from the seeds, for both edible purposes and industry use.
The wood can be used to make canoes, wood pulp and paper, and the bark is used to make rope.
The tree grows around 10m high by 8m wide.
